Study of hydrochemical and bacteriological characteristics in Bouhamdane watershed waters, NE Algeria

ABSTRACT

This study aims to determine the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of surface and groundwater of Bouhamdane basin, located in the North-eastern part of Algeria. Water resources in this area constitute the main source for public drinking, agricultural and industrial supplies in the region. For this purpose, a total of 20 water samples were collected from the Zenati and Bouhamdane rivers, wells and springs and have been analysed for 19 physicochemical elements. Total Coliforms, faecal Coliforms, faecal Streptococci and sulphite-reducing Clostridium were also investigated. The results showed that the water samples have pH values ranging between 6.48 and 8.11, electrical conductivity ranges between 348 and 2150 μS/cm and Nitrate amounts range between 6.16 and 65.2 mg/L. High concentrations of fluoride were noted in the North-eastern part of the study area and the phosphates were relatively high in surface water samples (up to 6.45 mg/L). Hydrochemical facies using Piper diagram indicates that waters are mainly of Cl-Na-K and HCO₃-Na-K types. According to thermodynamic calculations and stability diagrams, the chemical evolution of waters is mainly controlled by water–rock interactions. The bacteriological analysis showed that 35% of 20 samples are contaminated, which can represent an important threat for the riparians.

KEYWORDS:

• Bouhamdane
• Algeria
• basin
• hydrochemistry
• bacteriology
• pollution

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Yassine Gueroui http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3097-8857

Ammar Maoui http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2753-311X